SpudsSioux

I know the article indicates Laurila took a visit at Michigan State and has one planned for CC but it sounds like those are distant options. UND firmly in the top 3.

I don’t think it’s automatic. I think Ryan will encourage him to explore all his options. Surprisingly they don’t come off as die-hard Gopher fans.

Couple I would add to this list are Zachary Morin and Charlie Tretheway. Morin would have likely went 1 overall in the Q draft if not for signing a Tender with Youngstown. Doesn't look like he follows any colleges, but nice to see he follows Livanavage and Strathmann.

I would love to see them add a defensive coach and let KG go back to focusing more on the goaltenders (recruiting and developing). I would think/hope that Smaby is someone they're looking at.

2: Komzak 3: Pyke 4: Wiebe 6: Britt 7: Livanavage 14: Berg 15: Benoit 18: Perron 20: Pehrson 24: Emerson 25: Zmolek 28: Johannes 32: Persson 30: Hedquist

I think we all agree the Brent Johnson situation was mismanaged. Honestly, if you look at a few of the decisions made since then, I think the coaches have even looked in the mirror and know that bringing him in too early was a mistake on their part. If they continued to do it over and over again I would be concerned they weren't learning. The fact they had Wiebe play another year in the BCHL and they aren't rushing Strathmann in tells me that they learned from that mistake as well.

That's funny. Weird that there would be such a difference from the online roster. Hope the new guys don't shrink when they get to Grand Forks, too!

Who were the 5'8 defensemen? I'm getting this for our D last season based on the roster 6'5 (Kleven), 6'2 (Sidorski, Moore), 6 (Johnson), 5'11 (Farmer, Jandric, Frisch), 5'10 (Bast)

Not necessarily. Remember Hensler is accelerating, hasn't made a decision, and by all accounts appears we are very much in the mix. a one-year rental signals to me either they project Mcinnis or Ausmus to be ready OR they are feeling optimistic about Hensler.

As I said, a Boris disciple. Every kid I've seen that works with Boris has very, very good edgework.

Haha I get that. Last year is sticking out like a sore thumb right now. I do think with a little added weight and strength we'll be pleasantly surprised with how much more Blake and O-Mac can fight thru contact this year. We'll also be seeing some better skaters replacing those leaving (Perron's edgework is night and day better than any of the departing forwards), Livanavage is a Boris disciple...he's skating/edgework will be noticeable from day one.

Omac and Blake getting knocked over is not because of edgework. O-Mac for sure needs to get stronger and Blake can too. Tough to use Frisch as the example because of his aunts, but then discount Sanderson because of his dad. I can get on board with saying they need to be a better skating team across the board and maybe not seeing improvement in guys like Kunz, Albrecht, Ness, Jamernik, etc. What I took issue with was that you said Frisch is the only above average skater we've had recently which was downright laughable.

You don't think Sanderson, Jandric, O-Mac or Blake have above average edge work?! Just because they're not showing off their edgework to start the period doesn't mean they're not working on that in practice. You don't see someone turn on a dime to elude pressure like Blake does unless his edge work is exceptional. Also, I think if you listen to Dylan James interview about how they had been working with him on staying lower thru his stride to create more power (and seeing a difference at the end of the season when he was blowing by people), it sure seems like this is still something being worked on quite intentionally.

Might be a generational gap here and people that follow further back know it used to be a foothold. Marvins (Lee, Cal, David), Christians (Dave, Eddie), Al Hansleben. Makes sense that there's been a shift with Hardwick at the helm and him being a Bulldog.

This!. I love our top end guys for this year (Emerson, Perron and the D) and the current Junior class (Boisvert, Swanson, McInnis). If we could land someone like Emery or Hensler (if he's accelerating) to that class this could turn around in a hurry. Of note, the only coach I've seen that Hensler follows is Berry. For the Sophomores, have to hope and think we have a shot at the local kids at the NTDP (Laurila, O'Neil and Lindberg). Edit: YHH confirmed Hensler is accelerating.

That’s his older brother. This one can’t commit until this summer.

Thanks. That sounds much more like the player I've seen. He definitely passes the eye test to me.

Note on Benoit. Looking at his +/- is concerning, but definitely doesn't tell the whole story. I thought there had to be a data error somewhere as I can only count a couple times I've seen him on the ice when scored on for Waterloo. I realize it's the carry-over from when he was the top minute guy on a bad Omaha team. It's definitely more in line with what the Lancers +/- look like. I'd be interested to see what his is since joining Waterloo.

I may be crazy, but I think Benoit is the guy that's going to surprise next year (the way Frisch did as a Freshman). Every time I watch him, he's just so steady. Makes great outlet passes, plays simple but hard. I could be way off, but I think his game translates well and could end up playing more than everyone thinks he's going to.

Miller getting sent packing at the 11th hour also skewed this. That class was actually loaded with D.

The comment was that they are steering them away from UND; not that they aren’t steering them to them. They may not be actively pushing kids to us but looking at the last 10 years it’s hard to say they’re steering kids away from us (Ausmus, Thompson, Sanderson, kleven, Caulfield, Hain). I’m sure I’m missing some. I think a lot still has to do with geographically where the NTDP is getting kids. Still hard to talk an East Coast kid into wanting to come to Grand Forks. if Laurila doesn’t end up at UND (and Lindberg if he’s at NTDP) that would raise a red flag to me. I would actually argue during the Hak years it appeared moreso that someone was steering away. Seems like there were a ton of decommitments (not just to us) and bolting to the CHL.

And Hain. That being said, all four were committed before they went to NTDP, but the fact they all kept their commitments tells me that rumor may not have much truth to it.

If you watch the Steel highlights, a huge chunk of the Celebrini from Perron goals are Celebrini using his speed to get open and Perron finding him in space. To me, James looks like the most natural fit with him because he's the closest to that speed. Knowing James and O-Mac had a connection in juniors, I would love to see a James - OMac - Perron line. Then Blake - Schmalts - Gaber. That would be a pretty tough 1-2 punch.

Very good Sophomore defenseman from Moorhead. He was Laurila's D partner in Bantams (Laurila now at NTDP). His older brother is committed to Colorado College.

Lindberg got an invite to the NTDP eval camp.